by Selena Kitt
I pull back ever so slightly. Her lips follow mine, not wanting to lose the contact between us.
“You are possibly the bravest woman I know. I’m in awe of you, Cami.”
We stare deeply into each other’s eyes for endless minutes, communicating wordlessly, and I realize that my life will never be the same. Regardless of how our relationship plays out we will always be a part of one another. Imagining Cami as anything other than my other half twists my stomach into an uncontrollable knot.
“Thank you,” I whisper, and her eyes never leave mine but I can see the puzzled expression cross her face. Rather than wait for her question, I say to her, “Thank you for what you did in there, with Layla.”
“You were listening?” The shock is not lost on me.
“If it hadn’t been for Tyson I would have been through that door in a nanosecond. I wasn’t going to allow her to talk to you like that. When she told you about the pregnancy, Tyson actually had to hold me back from charging the door. I was so angry with her. One, for lying, and two, for the fact that she has some real nerve inviting herself up here. It just proves to me how unstable she is and incapable of respecting anyone.” I take a deep breath. “I’m finally beginning to see all of her games and regret the fact that I have spent the last five years with her.”
She wraps her arms tighter around me. Without breaking eye contact she whispers, “Never regret the things you do in life, Tristan. Layla is the one that will suffer in the long run from all this nonsense. She doesn’t deserve what a wonderful man you are, and what you are capable of.” She pauses. “Neither do I for that matter.”
For the first time in the last few minutes she drops her eyes from mine and lowers her head. I try to let her words sink in. Try hard to understand why she would say such a thing. She certainly deserves to be loved by a great person. Why in the world would she think otherwise?
“I don’t deserve you, Tristan.” I can hear the pain in her voice.
“Cameron Enders, what on God’s green earth makes you say such things?”
“Tristan, I—” She is fighting for the words. “I don’t know love. I don’t know what it feels like to love another or be loved by someone. I’m scared.”
My heart lurches and my stomach twists. “Then let me show you,” is all I can say, and her eyes, full of unshed tears, open wide to look deep into my own. “Please, Cami, don’t cry. Let me show you.”
“I don’t know how,” she breathes. Her unshed tears threaten to fall down her cheeks.
“There is nothing to know. It just comes naturally. You’ll see, I promise.” I plead with my eyes.
“I’ll try. I will try, Tristan.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
We’re interrupted by Beau, who calls to us from the patio. “Come on, you two. Let’s go swimming.”
“We’ll be right there.” I speak up so that Cami can try and compose herself without answering.
“Are you guys okay?” Beau asks, her voice getting quieter and closer.
“We’re fine, Beau. Give us a minute?”
“Sure.” She walks away.
I look back up at Cami. “Are you all right?” I ask. She nods her reply. “Can we continue this conversation later?”
“Yes,” she breathes. “I didn’t mean to cry.”
“Shh. Please, Cami, it’s okay. Never be afraid. Please?” I bring my hands to her face. “I’m not going anywhere,” I say with emphasis on each word, and as I say them, their truth becomes evident.
“I’m trying, and I will continue to try.”
For the moment, it’s enough. I have patience to wait for the rest to follow.
I start to kiss her, softly, but her hands quickly find my hair and she pulls me into her. My answering kiss is hard and insistent, my desire for her building with each second. I want her right here, right now, and nothing’s going to stand in my way.
“You do know that there are four bedrooms in this suite, right?”
Dammit, Travis!
Chapter Thirty-Six
Cami
“Can I use your bed?” Tristan asks Travis, and I blush from head to toe.
“Hell no. You have your own room. Unless of course you’re planning on sharing.”
I stiffen and giggle nervously. Is he joking?
“That might not be a bad idea,” Tristan says, and I go still. Travis immediately notices my discomfort and lets out a low chuckle.
“But you have to bring Naomi along too,” Tristan says. “You can’t be the only one having all the fun.” I smack Tristan on the shoulder. “Ouch!” he exclaims, then busts out laughing.
Oh thank God he’s joking.
“I’m thinking Cami disagrees with our idea.”
I scowl at him, then decide to tease him back. “I think that Naomi is rather straight, boys. Get Beau, then we can talk.”
“What about Mick?” Tristan asks.
I giggle. “I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t mind joining the party.”
Tristan gazes at me, the expression in his eyes a mixture of playfulness and concern. I wink at him, and the concern vanishes.
“Why don’t we all get naked and skinny dip?” Tristan says.
Now it’s Travis’s turn to look a bit nervous, but there’s some excitement in his eyes too.
“Sure,” I say. “Then we can have a penis contest.”
I burst out laughing because Travis is doing a perfect impression of a cartoon character whose eyes are bugging out of his head.
“I’ll go get the girls, and you can grab the guys and get naked. We’ll climb on the couch and judge.” I start walking toward the patio but don’t get very far before Tristan scoops me up. I squeal and laugh out loud.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Tristan says. “There will be no penis viewing for you!” The smile on his face practically lights up the room. He carries me toward the patio doors.
I cross my arms. “Hmph. Talk about spoiling a girl’s fun.” I give him my best mock pout.
As Tristan crosses the threshold onto the patio he takes off my shoes. “You don’t need those.”
Everyone else is already outside, and before Tristan or Travis can ruin my fun, I blurt out to Beau, Jolene, and Naomi, “The boys want to have a penis contest.”
Beau raises her eyebrow at me, a move I am certain I taught her. “A penis contest, eh?”
I proceed to burst into a fit of laughter that has me nearly in tears. “It sure as hell wouldn’t be a boob contest.” I look very pointedly at Beau because she’s clearly the biggest chested in the group. I squirm to get Tristan to put me down, but he holds on. “Why don’t we all just grab our suits and go swimming?” I ask.
“Who says you need a suit?” Tristan says into my ear. I blush again.
“You want me to go swimming naked?”
He laughs. “Hell no!” He takes two big steps toward the pool before I figure out what he’s doing.
“Oh no you dooon—” And before I know it I’m flying through the air, the lights of the pool getting closer and closer. I squeal and land butt-first in the pool. Had I been more prepared I would have cannonballed.
I breach the surface of the pool and look at everyone standing on the pool deck staring at me. “Why am I the only one—”
The next thing I know all seven of them jump into the pool at once. I’m tossed around for a minute as they surface. I’m laughing because the only one in a swimming suit is Tristan, but no one seems to care.
As the water settles, Tyson and Jolene gravitate toward each other. Travis and Naomi are laughing and looking carefree. But it’s Mick and Beau who really catch my attention. Something about the way they embrace each other reminds me of Tristan and me. As I watch Mick looking at Beau, I recognize the look in his eyes. Mick’s gaze is filled with love, affection, and longing for Beau. It makes me smile.
“What’s so funny, Sweets?” Tristan asks. I turn to look at him. It’s there; the look that Mick has on his face is also reflected on Tristan’s
. Almost an exact replica. Only seeing it on Tristan’s face makes my insides quiver in anticipation of his touch.
He doesn’t disappoint. He cups my cheek lightly in his palm, subtle and sweet. I lean into his embrace, and the electricity of the contact sends sparks through my body. Blood races and my heart pounds as the fireworks go off inside my head.
I know that he loves me and that I’m going to love him back.
We stay in the pool for what seem like hours. Jessie keeps our glasses full, which helps keep the conversation going. As usual, Naomi quickly becomes the life of the party. I watch as Travis is frequently taken aback by Naomi’s boldness, but he keeps up with her. He seems more surprised maybe that they have similar personalities. Beau regales everyone with stories from our college days. At some point Jolene initiates a game of volleyball. Tyson and Tristan are rather quiet, which concerns me at first, but they’re smiling and laughing a lot, so I decide that they’re just taking a step back to allow us girls a chance to have some fun.
At around two-thirty in the morning things start to wind down. Jessie comes by and asks if we need anything else, but I think we’re all beyond done at this point. It may only be two-thirty in Tarah, but it’s about five-thirty in the morning back home and everyone’s exhausted.
Tristan and I eventually retire to our room, and we explore each other’s bodies with newfound desire and a desperate need to be close to one another.
Thursday finds us girls on a major shopping spree downstairs, Sasha and Mike trailing after us. We see Layla and her entourage of people and bodyguards, but she wisely keeps her distance. Thank goodness for that because Beau is just the type to open the can of worms Tristan and I are trying desperately to avoid.
After our shopping spree, we all spend a few hours in the spa getting buffed, waxed, and massaged. It’s really nice to have some serious girl time.
Upon our return late in the afternoon, we enter the suite to find that the men have put out champagne and roses. The gesture is very sweet, but it’s odd that the boys are nowhere to be found. Inside each of the bouquets of roses are cards with each of our names on them. Quickly opening mine, I find Tristan’s ruggedly elegant script.
On our bed you will find an outfit I would like you to wear tonight. At precisely 5:45 this evening a group of women from the salon will come by to help you and your friends get ready. See you at 7:15. –Tristan.
I hear the squeals as the other girls read their cards. We all scatter to our rooms.
Laying on my bed is a beautiful Gucci strapless dress with large pink, red, white, and green flowers. The material is full and the dress soft. When I pick it up and hold it to my chest it reaches the ground and then some. Next to the dress on the bed are two boxes. One obviously contains shoes, but the other is more of a mystery. The shoes are Jimmy Choo peep toe pumps in suede black. Also in the shoe box are stockings, black lacy boy-shorts, a garter belt with suspenders, and a sheer lace strapless bra, all of which are my size.
At the bottom of the box is an envelope addressed to me, inside which I find six satin ribbons – three pink, one red, one green, and one lavender – and a note.
My dearest Cami, please have someone help you string these. –Tristan
I smile. They match the dress almost perfectly and are more than long enough to be strung through my corset.
The other box is wrapped in pink wrapping paper. Written on the paper is another note:
This is on loan from downstairs.
On loan? I shrug it off and rip open the paper.
“Oh! That’s why.”
It’s a black velvet jewelry box that contains a choker: an elegant set of platinum rings intertwined with a black ribbon and studded with diamonds. Front and center on the choker is a bow. There are also a matching bangle and platinum hoop earrings with diamonds hung in the center. The diamonds on the earrings have to be at least half a carat. They are beautiful and will match the dress perfectly.
I admire the jewelry for a few minutes before heading into the bathroom for a shower. I open the door to find candles surrounding the bathtub, more flowers, and a card addressed to me.
Think of this as the start of an epic birthday weekend. Sit back, relax and enjoy a nice long bath.
As I put the card down, I see that the water has already been run. It’s steaming slightly in the coolness of the bathroom. I quickly strip out of my jeans and tank top and climb into the tub to enjoy some relaxation time.
At precisely seven o’clock Leroy enters the suite to find the four of us dressed in outfits that look better suited for the red carpet than whatever it is the men have planned for us. Naomi and Jolene look amazing with their hair done up, and the dresses they’re wearing are very flattering for their figures. Naomi is rocking a cocktail-length, leather contoured dress with studded accents and shoes that have the same studs. Jolene’s dress is a strapless number, white with a black lace overlay, that accents the curves she has. She really is beautiful with her gorgeous green eyes and soft lines. Beau is something else entirely. She had presented herself last night as rugged in her jeans and v-neck shirt, but tonight her hair is pulled up, makeup’s on, and she’s wearing a floor-length, high-slit dress topped with a modified halter top that comes over her right shoulder in a thick strap. It’s held over her left breast with a silver chain strap that matches the belt around her waist. The shoes peeking out from under her dress match perfectly, too.
“Ready, ladies?” says Leroy, who is smiling at us. I take it as a good sign.
We all nod or say yes in unison.
Leroy nods in return. “Now, if you will go down to the lobby, you will find Sasha and Mike awaiting your arrival,” he says.
We dutifully follow him to the foyer, where the elevator is already waiting for us. We file in and Beau hits the button for the lobby.
“I wonder why all the mystery,” Naomi says as soon as the doors close.
Beau answers before I do. “I would imagine it has to do with keeping Tristan hidden from the public. Having Layla Brooke in the hotel certainly isn’t helping that at all,” she says. She’s absolutely right of course. No doubt the boys left the suite at a time when they wouldn’t be seen and have been hiding out ever since.
“Why isn’t Leroy escorting us downstairs?” Jolene asks.
“That’s a good question,” I say. “I’d imagine because we haven’t yet been seen with him, and Mike and Sasha have the market on our escort services.” I laugh and everyone joins in.
“Honestly, Cami. Is all this really worth it?” It’s Beau asking the question.
I know what she’s implying. She knows what kind of life comes with celebrity, and I think she’s questioning my motives for wanting to be with Tristan. Being thrown into the spotlight of Hollywood for being someone’s girlfriend has never been high on my list of priorities in life.
I shrug.
Thank heavens we’ve reached the ground floor and I have an excuse not to continue the conversation. The doors open, and Mike and Sasha are standing in front of the elevators.
“Good evening, Sasha. Mike.” I step out first, followed by Naomi, Jolene, and Beau bringing up the rear. “To where do you have the pleasure of escorting us?”
Mike’s shoulders shake with laughter. “Dinner, á la Tristan,” he says quietly, but his voice is dripping with humor.
I blush and look at the girls, shrugging. They all laugh.
We start walking toward the entrance of the hotel. As we get near the doors I can see two white Jeeps, much like the one Tristan and I were in the other night.
“What in the world?” I ask aloud to no one in particular.
Sasha is the one to respond. “Your chariots await.” And she ushers us through the doors and into the Jeeps.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Tristan
“They’re close,” Tyson says.
“Oh, thank God.” Travis’s voice is exasperated.
“Oh please, Trav. You have been waiting for all of ten minutes,”
I jab back at him.
“Trey, you and I both know that I am not a patient person. Ten minutes is like an eternity in my book.” He is laughing and he’s right, he doesn’t do patient well.
Although, this whole evening is his idea and on his dime, I told him what my plans were for Cami’s birthday, therefore providing the opportunity and he acquired the means of how to get there.
We’re back on the boat that Cami and I had taken out a few nights ago, only this time it’s lit up with stings of lights and lanterns. The hot tub is covered, at least for now. Unbeknownst to the girls, we have packed each of them an overnight bag, and Leroy is staying behind to make sure everything in our suite is packed up.
I’m extremely nervous about Cami’s reaction to my birthday idea. She brought it up once before, but we never discussed it further. I’m sure she’d been thinking were going to spend her birthday quietly in Tarah.
Headlights approach the parking area, and the two white Jeeps come to a stop. I watch as the doors open and, one by one, they all get out. I look around at Tyson, Travis, and Mick, and the looks on their faces say it all. We have done well. Tonight is going to be amazing.
When Cami climbs out of the car my heart immediately starts sending blood racing through my body. The electricity that has always sparked before is present again. Her hair is pulled back into a vertical bow with curled tendrils framing her soft face. Her tattoos are on display in glorious elegance. Her dress is so long that when she walks the toes of her simple black Jimmy Choo’s can be barely be seen.
The girls turn and take in the size of the boat. Cami catches me staring and smiles, and her smile is like turning on a lamp that lights up the whole world. Okay, maybe just my world, but a world nonetheless.
The girls start to make their way toward us along the dock, careful not to catch their heels in the planks. One by one, Travis, Tyson, Mick, and I step off the boat and line up to greet them as they approach. The air is charged with energy and excitement as they walk toward us. As soon as Cami’s within reach, I grab her arm and pull her close to me.
